More young people finding jobs in BPO sector – PM

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says more young Jamaicans are finding employment in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies in Kingston and St. Andrew, Montego Bay and now, Mandeville. Speaking at Official Opening of BPO enterprise, Sutherland Global Services in New Kingston on January 22, the Prime Minister hailed the sector as a game-changer noting that “any industry that can provide some 18,000 jobs in just over 20 years, and 6000 jobs in the past 10 years is indeed a game-changing sector.” Mrs. Simpson Miller also pointed out that 8 of the BPO companies currently operating in Jamaica have 5-year expansion plans that could create almost 6000 additional jobs.

To facilitate continued growth and job creation in the sector, the Prime Minister said that additional operating space is being built by the Factories Corporation of Jamaica in the Montego Bay Freezone and the Portmore Technology Park. The Barnett Tech Park in Montego Bay is also undergoing expansion to attract more companies. “This build-out of space has been supported by the Government’s creation of a dedicated and attractive Infrastructure Loan Facility managed by the Development Bank of Jamaica,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Simpson Miller noted that her Administration recognises the outsourcing sector as an important driver of economic development through foreign direct investment, job creation and general business expansion. In this regard, BPO companies are generating an estimated US$500 million in revenues annually.

The Prime Minister also disclosed that the Forbes Best Countries for Business Report has increased Jamaica’s ranking from 64th to 59th for ease of doing business. Jamaica is already the number 1 country in the Caribbean for doing business.

Currently, Jamaica offers a comprehensive range of incentives to facilitate firms looking to establish offshore outsourcing operations in Jamaica. They can receive concessions on income tax, exemption from the duties and taxes on imported items for their businesses, and employment tax credits.  They can also receive training and recruitment support.

Today, Jamaica is the place of choice for several leading international firms, including Sutherland Global Services, among approximately 40 companies. These companies are involved in a range of business areas including Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Software Development, and Outbound Marketing.

Sutherland Global Services started its Jamaica operations in 2012 and currently employs 3000 persons including university students.